Serena Williams DESERVED to lose US Open final to Naomi Osaka - Pat Cash
NAOMI OSAKA thoroughly deserved to beat Serena Williams in the US Open final to win her first Grand Slam title on Saturday.
That is the opinion of BBC Sport pundit and former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash.
Osaka beat Serena Williams 6-2, 6-4 at Flushing Meadows in a hugely controversial clash.
Legendary American star Williams was involved in a heated altercation with the match officials.
Williams’ coach Patrick Mouratoglou was adjudged to have coached her during the match and she was given a code violation by umpire Carlos Ramos.
Osaka, other than the unknown of that game or so, was the better player. She played phenomenal tennis
Ramos then gave Williams a point penalty after she smashed her racket.
Williams took offence to the decision and was given a game penalty for calling Ramos “a thief”.
Osaka went on to serve out for the win and land her first Grand Slam in her first final.
And Cash was mightily impressed with the Japanese star, saying she outplayed her opponent despite the controversy.
“I think it’s a bit unfortunate this has happened because she played an unbelievable match,” he said on BBC Radio 5 Live.
“She was outplaying Serena, Serena sort of got her way back into it but the pressure was just too much.
"She lost her serve straight away after breaking serve.
“Osaka, other than the unknown of that game or so, was the better player. She played phenomenal tennis.
“If we look at the stats for a second. Unforced errors: 14-21, 73 per cent first serves, with 73 per cent success when the first serves went in.
“Her fastest serve 119mph, Serena’s fastest serve was 118. She was absolutely phenomenal.
“It’s probably going to be overshadowed in the news by this, but not in Japan.
“I think people who have seen this match will really well and truly say ‘well that was terrible what happened to Serena’ but you should be going ‘wow, wow, this girl is one heck of a player’.”